Perception of crisis mode tied to patient info exchange issues

(HealthDay)—Hospital staff members who perceive their unit is trying to do too much too quickly are more likely to also perceive problems in exchanging patient information across units, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Mark E. Patterson, Ph.D., from the University of Missouri in Kansas City, and colleagues estimated perceived crisis mode work climate and patient information exchange problems within hospitals by evaluating survey data from the 2010 Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (247,140 hospital staff members across 884 hospitals ). A crisis mode work climate was defined as a hospital unit trying to do too much too quickly.

The researchers found that respondents believing their unit was in crisis mode were 1.6 times more likely to perceive problems in exchanging patient information across hospital units (odds ratio, 1.6), compared to those disagreeing that their unit was in crisis mode.

"Hospital staff members perceiving crisis mode work climates within their hospital unit are more likely to perceive problems in exchanging patient information across units, underscoring the need to improve communication during transitions of care," the authors write.

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